Keeping Pests Out: 5 Tips to Ensure Your Home is Bug Free

When it comes to pests, mice, cockroaches and ants top the list as the most irritating (and unwelcome) household â€œguests.â€ How, then, do you keep these little creatures from invading your space? These five tips should cut back on the frequency of your pest sightings.

Eat in the Kitchen

This tip sounds almost too simple, but keep in mind that many families snack throughout the house or enjoy dinners in front of the television every once in a while. To limit your pest sightings, keep food in the kitchen and dining room only. You’ll have an easier time cleaning up after meals, and establishing this habit ensures that crumbs don’t spread throughout the house.

Look for Holes

Walk around the exterior of your home, looking for any holes or openings where bugs can get in. Fill these spaces with either caulk, steel wood or spray foam, whichever you prefer. While you may not be able to find every little crack, your efforts will make a difference in the number of pests you see inside the house.

Cut Back on Clutter

Clutter attracts pests, because it gives them shelter and allows them to hide from homeowners. Taking a few simple steps to reduce the clutter in your home can make a world of difference. For example, if you have pets, make sure you store their food in either a lidded, metal trash can (because mice are unable to scale the sides) or a sealed plastic container. Recycle cardboard boxes, or, at the very least, make sure you break them down and periodically move them to make sure nothing is hiding in them.

The storage area under the kitchen sink often attracts bugs because it is dark and moist. Rather than just throwing your supplies in a heap down there, try organizing them in containers or totes, so you can take them out every so often and make sure there’s not an infestation brewing. While they are out, you can also look to make sure the pipes aren’t leaking.

Screen Your Windows

Some homeowners resist installing window screens because they cut back on the amount of natural light flowing into the home. However, screens are a great pest barrier and allow you to enjoy fresh air without worrying about what will find its way into your living space.

Get Rid of Moisture Spots

Bugs love moisture. Therefore, the drier you can keep your property, the better off you will be. Make sure your downspouts point away from your house, and keep mulch from settling around your foundation and windows. Keep bushes and trees trimmed back from the house, and remember to check your crawlspace for leaks periodically.

No one wants to head into the kitchen late at night, only to find a cockroach scurrying across the floor. Keeping pests like ants, mice and roaches at bay is actually easier than you might suspect. Follow the tips above, and you won’t have to call in your pest control technician for an emergency service any time soon.